It is very therapeutic walking with a geriatric, arthritic dog. It does not matter if we are running late and if we don’t hurry will miss the school bus. It does not matter if it starts to rain and we are without an umbrella. It does not matter. It does not matter because these days, walking with Dexter, there is only one speed, slow and constant. That is the only speed he can go.

Carter and Dexter

Dexter is our sweet German Shepherd mix. He turned twelve this July. As of late his arthritic hips have been giving him a hard time. He struggles to get up. He struggles to get down. He struggles to get out the doggie door in time to do his business outside. More and more often he does not make it in time. Once he is up and moving however, he can maintain a slow and steady pace.

Every morning unless the rain is heavy we walk the quarter mile to the bus stop. We watch Cody get on the school bus and then Carter, Dexter, and I walk the quarter mile back home. On our walks home we used to have impromptu games of hide and seek in the small open field (where there is really only one tree and one shrub worthy of hiding behind.) We used to pick green or red apples from the orchard at the back of this field to nibble on while we walked. We used to examine the almost invisible hole in the ground that a group of bees call home just behind and to the right of that great hiding tree. We used to watch our ant friends move with purpose and conviction, walking along a tiny path from their hill to the blackberry bushes, a path worn by thousands and thousands of little ant feet, a path we have lovingly named The Ant Highway. We used to play leaf boat in the natural creek that runs alongside the field.

Carter eating an apple and watching his leaf boat in the creek.

We no longer take these little side trips on our morning walks; Dexter’s legs can only hold him up for so long. It is on the rare afternoon when we don’t have to rush to a swim lesson or a physical or occupational therapy appointment that I leave Dexter at home happily chewing on a treat and we get to pretend fish in the creek or visit our ant friends. It is the colder months and there is less activity anyway. The ants are sleeping under their warm dry thatch of browned grasses and dead pine needles. The apples are no longer any good for eating.

We don’t mind the change, at least I don’t. Carter can and does run up ahead to play or examine an interesting beetle or moss patch while Dexter and I bring up the rear, slowly. It is nice to know that for those moments, rushing or hurrying is simply not an option. I find myself looking forward to these walks and I know that someday, sooner than I would like, these moments will be gone.

And so we walk and we let Dexter sniff and take all the time he needs. There is no rushing. If we miss the bus so be it, I can always drive Cody to school. These last walks, however many more there will be, they are for Dexter.

31 Responses to The Last Walks with Dexter

Finding Cleo in your four o’ clock photo always makes me smile. 🙂 I sure hope we have many more walks but he is getting stiffer and I am starting to worry that he may be in some pain. Such a tough time.

I don’t think I will be able to do the 4 o’clock photo post with you all as I hoped I would. I am rarely home at that time (swim lessons, bus stop pick ups, etc) and it is very dark at that time in our little woods. I will continue to enjoy yours though!

We have had Dexter since he was just a little pup. He has always been very much the momma’s boy, my furry shadow where ever I go. It is strange to leave a room and not have him follow me anymore. He is just too tired and it breaks my heart a little.

I’m babysitting my sister’s 14 year old pup Harpo. He’s deaf and almost completely blind, with a hitch in his step. But – he’s a happy guy and for as long as he’s here, he’s going to be a pampered loved guy. As always, I am moved by the tenderness of your writing and accompanying pics..hugs, m

I am sure Harpo is being spoiled while you babysit him. Older dogs are just so sweet and kind. As long as Dexter is getting around enough and is happy we will take our walks and pamper him. Thank you for the kind comment about my writing – it is comments like yours that give me such a warm fuzzy feeling.

You are such a good dog person to make Dexter’s last days happy. They are such good friends – to do any less would be unforgivable. And you’re teaching your son wonderful lessons about patience and compassion.

Dexter has been such a great friend and companion over all these years. He deserves our patience and respect especially in his twilight. I am so very glad my boys have gotten to grow up with him and I know that he has left such an impact on them that they will have fond memories of him over the course of their lives.

Awww! This brought back such memories. We had a German Shepherd mix named Maggie. She passed away 2 1/2 years ago and had similar problems. She was also 12 at the time. 😦 So glad you are cherishing your time with Dexter and I hope you are able to take many more walk with him!

It is so hard to loose a pet, especially one that has been with you for so long. We lost our other dog Rosy earlier this year (she was 13 and had cancer). I really do try to take that extra time to enjoy his company. For about a year now, the very first thing I do when I get up in the morning is go over to Dexter’s bed and spend a minute or two talking to him and giving him scritchings and hugs. I fear that our walks are numbered as he starts to fall more often. And then we will have to make that hard decision.

Yes it is. He has had a great life with us and we are lucky to have had him as part of our family for so long. I don’t think he will make it through the winter at the rate he is going. It is going to be hard on all of us when he goes.

He is such a sweetheart and it is nice to take these walks with him, for him, and really be able to enjoy them. I hope he is around for quite a while longer but his health has been getting slowly worse and I do worry that he may not make it into the next season.

Thank you for you kind comment. I hope you and your sweet boxer have many great years ahead of you. It is so very hard to watch our furry friends get older and slow down. Dexter is part of our family and will be greatly missed when he is gone.